A supplement to the knowledge on chemical properties of beech bark

In this work the chemical properties of beech bark, from five locations in the Republic of Croatia, have been analysed. Five samples from each geographical location have been included in the experiment. On all the samples basic chemical analyses have been made: water, ash, extractives, cellulose, lignin and wood polyoses determination. For the purpose of a more complete insight into the chemical properties of beech bark, the extractives have been analysed by high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) and the metals were determined by atomic absorbtion spectrometry (AAS) and by the X - ray fluorescence technique (XRF). The results suggest a relation between the chemical composition and the location of growth. This is especially obvious in the metals determination, while there are no significant differences in the basic chemical analyses whose results correspond with the usual values. The results obtained give a systematic insight into the chemical composition of beech bark. It is important to mention that this work is the first one in Croatia which is concerned with the problems of bark from a chemical point of view.